Separable composite trailer construction



Aug. 19, 1958 w. E. MARTIN 2,848,252

SEPARABLE COMPOSITE TRAILER CONSTRUCTION Original Filed Oct. 9, 1946 5shets-sheet 1 mmvmx (William, ZijVar'Z'zJ/z Aug. 19,1958 w. E. MAm-m2,848,252

SEPARABLE COMPOSITE TRAILER CONSTRUCTION Original Filed Oct. 9, 1946 5'Sheets-Sheet 2 f INVENTOR. William Ef/ar'ZZ/a Aug. 19, 1958 w. E. MARTIN2,848,252

SEPARABLE COMPOSITE TRAILER CONSTRUCTION Original Filed Oct. 9. 1946 5Sheets-Sheet 3 '--T {7% h i I I I I 1 1 M I w %/l %/l INVENJZOR.[Haida/m E Zia/51w BY m w Aug. 19, 1958 w. E. MARTIN SEPARABLE COMPOSITETRAILER CONSTRUCTION 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed Oct. 9, 1946 g- 19,1958 w. E. MARTIN 2,848,252

SEPARABLE COMPOSITE TRAILER CONSTRUCTION Original Filed 001;. 9, 1946 5Sheets-Sheet 5 w /Za vv 5 i125??? E BY M United States Patent SEPARABLECOMPOSITE TRAILER CONSTRUCTION William E. Martin, Kewanee, 111.,assignor, by mesne assignments, to Hyster Company, Portland, 0reg., acorporation of Nevada Original application October 9, 1946, Serial No.702,249, now Patent No. 2,663,574, dated December 22, 1953. Divided andthis application September 15, 1953, Serial No. 380,271

8 Claims. (Cl. 280-415) The present invention relates to a trailerconstruction I and more particularly to connectible and separable unitswhich, when used in combination, form a trailer. This applicationcomprises a division of my copending application Serial No. 702,249,filed October 9, 1946, now Patent No. 2,663,574, directed to a trailerwith detachable gooseneck.

Some of the principal objects of this invention are to provide variousconnectible units which, when properly chosen and connected, willprovide various forms of a convenient transporting unit; to providestructures which may be selected for the particular work to be done andcombined to provide an effective structure for the purpose intended; andsuch further objects, advantages, and capabilities as will hereafterappear and as are inherent in the construction disclosed herein.

This invention further resides in the combination, construction andarrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings and, whilethe drawings show therein what may be regarded as several preferredembodiments of this invention, the same are to be understood asillustrative only and are not to be interpreted in a limiting sense.

In the drawings annexed hereto and forming a part thereof,

Fig. 1 represents a side elevational view of the rear end of a tractionunit and a gooseneck connected thereto;

Fig. 1A represents a cross-section of a rear supporting unit takenapproximately along the plane indicated by the line 1A1A, Fig. 3A;

Fig. 2 represents the structures of Figs. 1 and 1A connected together byone type of connection;

Figs. 3 and 3A represent plan views of Figs. 1 and 1A;

Figs. 4 and 5 represent, respectively, plan and side elevation of thestructure shown in Figs. 1 and 1A, connected by a different type ofconnecting unit;

Figs. 6 and 7 represent a still further modification of this structure,in which a tank unit is connected between the gooseneck and the rearcarrying unit; and

Fig. 8 represents, in elevation, still another form of connection of atraction unit to a drawn unit.

Reference will not be made in greater detail to the annexed drawings fora more complete description of this invention. A traction unit isindicated, in general, by the numeral 1 and is shown as being providedwith a customary form of fifth wheel connection 2a for receiving thecoupling element of a gooseneck 2. Short sections 3 of chain, shown asattached to the traction unit and being connectible to anddisconnectible from the gooseneck, serve as means for preventing thegooseneck from swinging sidewise and possibly causing damage when notconnected to the rear supporting unit of the trailer. A lever 4 ispivotally connected to the gooseneck at 5 and may be turned about itspivot by the hoist '6, controlled by the handle 7 and a foot 4a iscarried by a free end of lever 4 for engagement with a portion of the j1 frame 4b of the tractor 1. One or more units of this 2,848,252Patented Aug. 19, 1958 kind can be employed with each having a foot 4aand the connected lever 4 that act in the positions shown in Fig. 1through the hydraulic hoist 6 to support the overhanging gooseneck 2 ina given relation to the tractor frame 4b. Thus, gooseneck 2 is removablycarried upon the tractor by the fifth wheel 2a and by one or more feet4a, and side chains 3 are used as lateral stabilizers to hold thegooseneck 2 in longitudinal alignment with the tractor chassis. j j Atthe rear lower corners of the gooseneck are sockets 8 which serve asconnecting means whereby the gooseneck may be connected to another unit,either the wheeled unit of Figs. 1A and 3A, the intermediate spanning orbody unit of Figs. 2, 4, 5, 6, and 7,0r some other com-. parable unitprovided with spaced projections or frame extensions for insertion intothe sockets.

The rear supporting unit of the trailer comprises Wheels 9 of desirednumber, two or four, an axle 10' and connecting means 11. The pairs ofmeans 8 and 11 may be united by a pairof suitable beams 12 which may beeither tubular or solid but I prefer to make them tubular and of a sizeto snugly slip into the parts 8 and '11 and without an undesirableamount 'ofplay therein. 'Suitable securing means such as pins or crossrods 13 and 14 serve to hold the joined parts releasably securedtogether. A gusset 15 serves to strengthen the joint between the mainpart of the gooseneck 2 and, the connecting means 8. p A handle or cableattaching member 16 serves as means whereby the rear connectingu'nit'may be lifted when it is desired to connect this part of thetrailer to the forward part comprising the gooseneck 2.

Obviously, gooseneck 2 can beheld or adjusted by members 4, 4a, 5 and 6to meet the connecting structures described immediately above;When'thegooseneck and wheeled units are connected as in. Fig. 2, thehoist6 can then swing lever 4 into the position here illustrated. Chains3 are then removed and the trailing vehicle is rendered transportablethrough gooseneck 2 and fifth wheel 2a as in any other form of trailingvehicle.

If, therefore, it is desired to transport the trailer from one locationto another without utilizing it as a transporting medium, it may beconnected upas shown in Fig. 2. On the other hand, if it is desired tohave a platform on which to load and transport heavy articles, theplatform 8a may be connected to the connectors 8 by a pair of units 12preferably constructed as partsof the platform 8a, as'shown in Fig. 5,and to the connectors 11 by similar units 12". It will be readilyappreciated that this unit, set up as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, can bereadily connected to a traction unit as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and willserve as a convenient means for transporting loads. Also, the platformis; constructe d ,syrnmetrically with respect to vertical longitudinaland vertical transverse median planes for interchangeability provisionsof the vehicle body and attachable units connected by the securingdevices and with particular reference in-respect to the manner in whichthey are carried by the platform or body to provide end for end reversalof the latter members with regard to the connectible hitch tongue andwheeled units. e v

Figs. 6 and 7 show my invention used inthe transportation of a largetank 8b which has fourunitsx12a secured thereto in such relationshipthat. they maybe inserted into the connectors 8 and 11 for typicalgooseneck transportation made feasible by using the detachable gooseneckas illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2..

The modified construction illustrated inFig. 8 represents a furthervariation and adaptation of the invention over the forms thereof shownin Figs. 2, 5 and 7. The forward end of a trailer can be arranged forattachment with the connector orreach 20 which replaces the gooseneckstructures 2 in Figs. 2, 5 and 7 and which connector 20 connects withthetraction unit 1 which is more specifically revised to receive connector20.

In the Fig. 8 construction, the connector or reach 20 is provided withone or more legs 33 having ground engaging feet 34. A hoist unitsuch asthe hydraulic cylinder 38 is -'link connected with leg 33 to actuate theleg about its pivotal mounting on the connector unit as brought aboutthrough the manipulation of a fluid pump such as 37 carried upon theconnector 20 and operably connected with cylinder 38.

The forward connector unit 20 of the trailer is provided with thevertically arranged eye 40 for attachment with the tractor or towingunit 1. The tractor in this instance is constructed and arranged toaccommodate unit 20 and provides a body or bracket 25 having a spindle24 projecting therefrom. The body or bracket 25 is also providedwitlrears 26 for connection to the eye 40 by means of a-p'in22. Thespindle 24 is surrounded by a sleeve 41 which has an apertured lugprojecting upwardly therefrom for reception between a pair of ears 42.The lug and ears are "connected by a pivot pin 43 which allows verticalpivoting action between the traction unit and the trailer unit.

Thus connector 20 is vertically adjustable by leg contactwith thegroundand the traction unit is arranged for convenient reception of thisparticular type of connector that is attached to a trailing vehicle.

While I have disclosed various uses for this invention, I wish itunderstood that this disclosure is illustrative onlyand is not to beinterpreted in a limiting sense. Other embodiments of this inventionthan shown herein are possible within the scope of the annexed claimsand it is my intention that they shall 'be included within these claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a-structure of the character indicated, a wheelsupported axlehaving attaching means connected thereto, a-gooseneck provided withhitch means for connecting it to -a traction unit, said gooseneck alsobeing provided with attaching means for connecting it to said axle, andjoining means for rigidly connecting said two attaching means, saidjoining means comprising a spanning structure provided at opposite endswith identical attaching means for securement with the-first and secondmentioned attaching means respectively to form a mobile vehicle.

2. In a structure of the character indicated, a wheelsupported axlehaving attaching means connected thereto, a gooseneck provided withhitch means for connecting it to a tractor unit, said gooseneck alsobeing provided with attaching means for connecting it to said axle, andjoiningmeans for rigidly connecting said two attaching means, saidjoining means comprising a hollow tubular intervening structure providedat its opposite ends with identical attaching means for securernent withthe first and secondmentioned attaching means respectively to connectthe axle and the gooseneck whereby to .form a complete mobile vehicle.

3. In a material hauling trailer, in combination, connected separabletrailer ,forrning structures comprising at least one intermediatejoining body unit, a wheeled supporting unit, and a gooseneck unithaving hitch means thereon for connection with a towing vehicle wherebyto bodily move said connected separable structures by means of saidwheeled supporting unit, and releasable coacting securing mechanismscarried by said body unit and on each of said other units respectivelyto provide cooperative means for the disconnection and assembly or forselective interchange of said respective trailer forming units, saidmechanisms each comprising a coupling beam portion on one adjoining unithaving fixed engagement within a receiving cavity portion for said beamportion on the other of the adjoining units to fixedly secure said twounits in transportable relation adjacent .one another.

4. In a fiat bed trailer, in combination, connected trailer, saidelements comprising a trailer body unit symmetrically constructed endfor end, a wheeled supporting unit, and a gooseneck unit having hitchmeans thereon for connection with a towing vehicle whereby to bodilymove said connected separable units by means of said wheeled supportingunit, and releasable coacting securing means connected with the oppositeends of said body unit and with each of said other units respectivelycomprising like means of one kind connected with said body unit ends andlike means of a difierent kind connected with said other units to couplewith the body end means respectively whereby said secured separableunits may be disconnected and reassembled and/ or selectivelyinterchanged end for end to reversibly support said trailer body unit,said body unit comprising the load carrying platform for said fiat bedtrailer.

5. In a trailer, in combination, separable unitary elements collectivelyforming the trailer, said elements comprising actrailer body unitconstructed symmetrically with respect to vertically positionedlongitudinal and transverse median planes, a wheeled supporting unitproviding .an .end for said body unit, andia hitch unit to provideanother end for said body unit and having means for towing connectionwith a pulling vehicle, and 'coacting releasable connecting structuresinterposed between opposite ends of said body unit and said other unitsrespectively comprising laterally spaced similar devices fixedlyattached and symmetrically arranged at opposite ends of said body unit,said other units each being provided with identical parts to rigidlyreceive the devices of either end of the body unit to bodily join saidadjacent units together for complementary and sole support of the bodyunit through said devices and 'coacting parts and whereby said connectedunits may be taken apart and reassembled or bodily interchanged end forend in relation to said body unit of said trailer.

6. In a trailer, in combination, separable unitary elements collectivelyforming the trailer, said elements comprising va trailer body unitconstructed symmetrically with respect to vertically positionedlongitudinal :and transverse median planes, a wheeled supporting unitproviding an end for said body unit, and a hitch unit to provide anotherend for said body unit and having means for towing connection with apulling vehicle, and coacting releasable connecting structuresinterposed between opposite ends of said body unit and said other unitsrespectively comprising laterally spaced similar devices fixedlyattached and symmetrically arranged at opposite ends of said body unit,said other units each being provided with identical parts to rigidlyreceive the devices of either end of the body unit to bodily join saidadjacent units together for complementary and sole support of the bodyunit through said devices and coacting parts and whereby said connectedunits may be taken apart and reassembled'or bodily interchanged end forend in relation to said body unit of said trailer, and locking means toreleasably secure each of said devices within their coactive receivingparts comprising individual members to bodily engage each of said partsand devices respectively, said-members of said locking means and thelocations of application of said members to said parts and devices beingsymmetrically provided to accommodate the selected symmetricalinterchange of said trailer units.

7. In a material hauling trailer, in combination, connected separabletrailer forming structures comprising at least one intermediate joiningbody unit, a wheeled supporting unit, and a gooseneck unit having hitchmeans thereon for connection with a towing vehicle whereby to bodilymove said connected separable structures by means of said wheeledsupporting unit, and releasable coacting securing mechanisms carried bysaid body unit and on each of said other units respectively to providecooperative means for the disconnection and assembly for selectiveinterchange of said respective trailer formseparable unitary elementscollectively forming said ing units, said mechanisms each comprising acoupling beam portion on one adjoining unit having fixed engage mentWithin a receiving cavity portion for said beam portion on the other ofthe adjoining units to fixedly secure said tWo units in transportablerelation adjacent one another, said body unit comprising a tankstructure of symmetrical end for end construction adapted for freesuspension between the other trailer forming units, said tank structurebeing provided With similar portions of said securing mechanisms at bothends thereof to coact With the corresponding portions of said attachingunits and at common levels to offset the location of said tank structureabove the attaching units.

8. In a structure of the character indicated, a wheelsupported axlehaving attaching means connected thereto, a gooseneck provided withhitch means for connecting it to a traction unit, said gooseneck alsobeing provided with attaching means for connecting it to said axle, andjoining means for rigidly connecting said tWo attaching means, saidjoining means comprising a spanning structure provided at opposite endswith identical attaching means for securement with the first and secondmentioned attaching means respectively to form a mobile vehicle, andsecuring means to lock each set of the first and second coactingattaching means together comprising pin means and apertures in saidattaching means to receive said pin means therethrough, said pin meansand said apertures being provided in identical matching locations in allof said attaching means to permit interchange of the connected unitscarrying said attaching means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,223,650 Weber Dec. 3, 1940 2,256,594 Ingram Sept. 23, 1941 2,325,869Mosling Aug. 3, 1943 2,350,841 Troche June 6, 1944 2,360,901 SimmonsOct, 24, 1944 2,389,211 Pointer Nov. 20, 1945 2,425,948 Lucien Aug. 19,1947 2,540,859 Birkin Feb. 6, 1951

